Trolley-track



(No Model W. H. BRODIE. TROLLEY TRACK.

Patented Dec. 18,1894.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WVILLIAM H. BRODIE, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

TROLLEY-TRACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 531,151, dated December 18, 1894. Application filed October 4. 1 894. Serial No. 524.857. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. BRoDIE,a citizen of the United States, residing a'tBrooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trolley-Tracks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in that class of overhead tubular trolley-tracks of which that described in the patent to Ooburn, No. 365,240, granted June 21, 1887, is an example. In this tracka sheet of metal of uniform thickness is bent into a tubular form of substantially rectangular cross-section, the pendent, free edges of the sheet being turned inward toward the median line and curved so as to form two rounded troughs, each semicircular in cross-section. These troughs form the two track-rails for the trolley-wheels, which have rounded faces to fit the tracks, the slot or opening between the rails allowing space for the hanger suspended from the trolley.

The object of my invention is, in part, to provide an overhead trolley-track which will enable a trolley having wheels with flat and comparatively broad treads to be employed, thereby lessening the wear and chafing of the wheels on the track-rails and obviating any tendency to running up on the sides of the rails, whereby a wabbling and uncertain motion is imparted to the trolley; and in part to strengthen that portion of the tube which forms the rails without adding unduly to the weight of the frame-portion of the tubular track, all as will be hereinafter fully described and the novel features carefully defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings-Figure 1 is a transverse, vertical section of a trolleytrack embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, partly broken away. 'Both of these views show a trolley on the track. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of a sheet of metal from which the track seen in Figs. 1 and 2 may be formed. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 illustrate slight variations in the construction of the track. These will be hereinafter described.

In carrying out my invention in all its parts I take a sheet of metal of the proper width and length to form, when pressed into shape,

a tubular track of the'proper dimensions, and rolled to the cross-section seen in Fig. 3; that is to say, with the margins, at, thicker than margins, as, will form the inwardly-turned,

track-rails, while the thinner part y will form the tubular body or frame which supports said rails.

bottom, a, and flaring sides, I), in lieu of the common construction, having the form of a semi-circle in cross-section. This enables me to use flat-faced trolley-wheels and it provents the wheels from chafing and riding up the sides of the track.

The thickened margins of the sheet may be formed by throwing the excess of metal all on the inside of the rail, as seen in Fig. 1, or on the outside, as seen in Fig. 4, or partly on the insideand partly on the outside, as seen in Fig. 5. I may also apply this thickening or reinforcing of the rails to the semi-circular form of track-rail, as seen in Fig. 6.

One of the advantages of the reinforcement of therails, as described is that it places the the wheels of the latter to depress the metal of the rail where it stands and form hollows, soon producing an uneven track.

I have shown a trolley in Figs. 1 and 2, of which 0* is the frame, 8 the wheels, and t the hanger. In these views, also, the tubular track is represented as supported from above by a bracket, u; but these features form, in themselves, no part of my present invention.

The track-rails will, by preference, have a semi-hexagonal form, but some departure from this is permissible.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. A trolley-track consisting of a metaltube having a longitudinal slot along its under side and having along the respective sides of said slot track-rails of substantially semi-polygonal cross-section, each track-rail having a flat bottom a and flaring sides I), as set forth.

2. A trolley-track consisting of a metal tube having a longitudinal slot along its under side with the margins along the sides of the slot turned inward and upward to form trackrails, the metal of the tube which forms the track-rails being of greater thickness than that which forms the body-portion of the tube, substantially as set forth.

3. Atrolley-track consisting of a metal tube slotted longitudinally at its under side and furnished with two track-rails of semi-polygonal cross-section along the margins of said slot, the metal of the track which forms the said rails being thicker than that of the body of the tubular track, substantially as set forth.

4. An integral, tubular trolley-track having semi-polygonal, flat-bottomed rails extending along an open,longitudinal slot in its bottom,

the metal of the tubular track which forms the rails being thicker than the main or bodyportion of the tube, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with a trolley-track having alongitudinal slot along its under side and having along the respective sides of said slot track-rails of substantially semipolygonal cross-section, each rail having a flat bottom with flaring, inclined sides, of a trolley having wheels with flat faces adapted to run on the flat bottoms of the tracks, as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

\VILLIAM H. BRODIE.

Witnesses:

HENRY GONNETT, JAS. KING DUFFY. 

